FSU escapes with victory

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 15: Dalvin Cook #4 of the Florida State Seminoles scores the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes on November 15, 2014 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Hurricanes 30-26. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)(Photo: Joel Auerbach, Getty Images)

Jameis Winston helped FSU slowly chip away at a double-digit deficit and Miami native Dalvin Cook scored the game-winning touchdown on a 26-yard run with 3:05 remaining to lead FSU to a 30-26 victory over Miami here at Sun Life Stadium.

The Seminoles turned away the Hurricanes with 39 seconds left on a Jalen Ramsey interception at the FSU 16.

Added coach Jimbo Fisher: “When you measure this team for 60 minutes. It measures up pretty dag on good. We can compete with anybody, anywhere. Anybody. Anywhere. Every team has flaws.”

FSU (10-0), which clinched its third consecutive appearance in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game before the game thanks to Clemson’s loss to Georgia Tech, extended its school-record winning streak to 26 games.

Whether it’s enough to move up from the third spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings past idle Oregon will be determined on Tuesday.

No. 4 Alabama (9-1), fifth in the CFP rankings, controlled the tempo at home to win 25-10 over the top team in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ polls, Mississippi State, and the last remaining undefeated team from a Power-Five conference. TCU (9-1), fourth in the CFP rankings, won 24-20 at Kansas.

The Seminoles did their part to have the chance to defend their national title with their fifth straight win over UM.

FSU outscored the Hurricanes 20-3 over the final 37 minutes of the game.

UM freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya torched FSU’s defense for 240 yards and two touchdowns in the first half on 10 of 17 completions.

But UM’s offense fell flat in the second half, and FSU’s came alive.

The Seminoles’ blend of crossing routes and plays in the middle of the UM defense gave the Seminoles offense new life.

Winston, now 23-0 in his career as FSU’s starting quarterback, completed 25 of 42 passes for 304 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Ten different players had receptions and Cook led the ground game with 92 yards on seven carries.

Winston’s pass deflected by Tyriq McCord into the hands of Karlos Williams for an 11-yard touchdown to put FSU within six with 4:19 left in the third quarter.

FSU, in the midst of an 8-play, 47-yard drive during the final two minutes of the third quarter, got called for a false start on a 3rd and 7 at the UM 16-yard line, resulting in a 37-yard field goal by Roberto Aguayo to bring the game to 23-20.

UM, desperately in need of a score went down the field nine plays for 46 yards to score a 46-yard field goal by Michael Badgley to retake a 26-20 lead.

FSU responded with a 53-yard field goal by Aguayo, his second of the game, to make it 26-23. And on FSU’s next possession, Winston led a five-play, 62-yard drive resulting in Cook’s second touchdown of the game. Cook finished with 7 carries for 92 yards.

FSU could have fallen into a pack of one-loss teams vying for a spot in the final four of the College Football Playoff Rankings, and a loss to Miami (6-4) could’ve sent the Seminoles back to Sun Life Stadium as the ACC representative in the Orange Bowl game on Dec. 31.

Instead, FSU has won eight of its last 10 against Miami and, Fisher improved to 5-0 against the Hurricanes as Seminoles head coach.

Travis Rudolph and Rashad Greene both caught four passes for 65 and 53 yards, respectively.

Greene became the third FSU receiver to have two seasons with 1,000 yards receiving.